The cost of betta fish can vary according to many factors, such as the betta fish type, colors, pattern, size, and gender. The betta itself can cost you anything from a couple of dollars to $30. Some “show level” bettas can be hundreds or even over $1,000!
Keep in mind that you’ll need to increase your initial budget if you’re going to set up an aquarium from scratch, plus yearly care expenses.
Are you considering adding a betta fish to your aquarium? In this article, we’ll answer your question, “how much do betta fish cost?” and give you an overview of all betta care expenses.
How Much Do Betta Fish Cost: Betta Types Price Range
Betta fish is one of the most common choices for fish owners of all ages, especially beginners. You can easily spot a betta fish in any aquarium, thanks to the unique veil-like shape and vibrant colors of their fins.
Unlike what many people think, bettas aren’t the hardy fish type that’s easy to keep with minimal effort.
Rather, these shallow-water fish are more complex and sensitive than others, and they require certain aquarium conditions to grow healthy and thrive.
Now, before we talk about the costs of betta care, here’s a list of betta fish types and their price range, from the lowest starting price to the highest:
- Veil Tail Betta: $2.00 – $5.00
- Crown Tail Betta: $3.00 – $6.00
- Plakat/Short Tail: $5.00 – $7.00
- Delta tail Betta: $6.00 – $8.00
- Double Tail Betta: $6.00 – $16.00
- Halfmoon Betta: $10.00 – $13.00
- Crown Tail Betta: $10.00 – $20.00
- Dumbo/Elephant Ear Betta: $10.00 – $30.00
- Dragonscale Betta: $10.50 – $13
- Koi Betta: $12 – $20
- Spade Tail Betta: $13.00 – $22.00
- Rose/Feather Tail Betta: $14.00 – $20.00
Also note that:
- Prices change over time and this is really just a loose guide.
- In general, you should expect to pay more for well cared for betta fish.
- Prices of the same betta type may vary depending on whether it’s a male or a female, but it won’t be a big difference.
- If you’re interested in rescue pets, you can adopt a rescue betta fish instead of buying one from a pet store. Adoption usually costs you about $10 or less, and the money goes to caring for other rescued fish and saving them from bad living conditions
- If you’re more interested in unique betta colors and patterns, going to a breeder might be for you. Breeders tend to have higher quality betta fish that have better health and a more vibrant variety of coloration.
How Much Does It Cost to Set Up a Tank for Your Betta?
There’s no specific budget for setting up an aquarium for your bettas. This depends on many factors like:
- How many betta fish do you plan on keeping?
- What tank size do you have or want to purchase?
- Are you going to buy separate care supplies or a kit?
- What quality are you looking for in your supplies?
After answering these questions, you can get a more realistic budget estimation for your tank setup, but you can expect an initial cost of about $100 to $150.
How Much Does It Cost to Raise Betta Fish in a Nano Aquarium?
If you don’t want to go through the trouble of purchasing multiple care supplies and installing them in your tank, or you just want to cut back on budget, you can look for a nano aquarium or an aquarium kit.
Nano aquariums’ prices vary depending on the size, water type, and other features. For example, 10L aquariums can start at $80, while other larger tanks with higher features can be anywhere between $120 – $300.
Like any other aquarium, nano aquariums have their pros and cons depending on what you’re looking for in a tank.
So, if you’re not planning on keeping a lot of betta fish or breeding them, and you’re not looking for something too fancy, here’s why they might be a good option for you:
- Nano aquariums usually have smaller sizes than other tanks, which is more suitable and convenient for the small betta fish.
- They won’t take much time or effort to set them up because of their small sizes and the built-in care equipment.
- They have lower costs of maintenance than other larger tanks.
Other Care Expenses to Keep In Mind
Betta fish are not that expensive to buy and care for, but before making a purchase, you should make sure you know your initial as well as your monthly budget limit to provide healthy living conditions for your bettas.
A monthly care budget for betta fish should include the following elements:
Food: $10 – $20 per month
Betta fish are carnivorous, which means they eat both plants and live food, and their diet should be rich in protein.
You can choose the type of food you prefer, whether it’s pallets, flakes, live food, or a combination of two food types. It’s best to give them at least one meal of live food each day.
Environment Maintenance: $10 – $40 per month
To keep your bettas healthy and thriving, you’ll need to do regular cleaning and maintenance for the tank itself, including the water and other care supplies, especially the filtration system.
Health Care: $25 – $40 per month
You might need to use extra water treatments to keep your water conditions at their best, such as a water conditioner.
Water conditioners are very useful for removing toxic elements in the water like chlorine as well as diluting nitrate and ammonia.
Medications: $15 – $50 per month
This one is not a permanent monthly cost, but you should still take it into consideration since bettas are sensitive and might be affected by poor diet or water conditions.
Conclusion
These colorful betta fish aren’t just beautiful to look at, but with their surprisingly bubbly personalities, you’ll find that they’re active, curious, and attention-grabbing!
Also, your little fish won’t take long until they start to recognize you whenever you come to their tank. You might even get a welcoming tail wiggle!
Now that you have the answer to “how much do betta fish cost?” and what extra expenses to expect, you can be prepared to own betta fish and keep them happy and healthy.